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The Cement Association of Canada (CAC) told the Senate Energy committee last week that while it supports carbon pricing mechanisms policymakers have to make sure the details don’t have negative unintended consequences on domestic industry. The cement industry in British Columbia is a prime example, said Michael McSweeney, president and CEO at CAC.

The head of the Aluminum Association of Canada (AAC) told the Senate Energy Committee this week that the Canadian government can continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by ensuring more domestically produced aluminum is used in vehicles and buildings.

The last two federal budgets have provided a significant amount of financial support to the emerging Canadian clean technology sector. This has been done through expanded grant opportunities and the topping up of agency funding envelopes. But one successful cleantech firm says the federal government should instead focus on users of cleantech.

There are a number of challenges upstart and emerging Canadian clean technology companies face as they try to commercialize their innovation. The biggest is the valley of death where financing, usually public money, is critical to get first pilot projects done and then scale to commercial demonstrations. But for some, there is simply no benefit of going through the process.